Who Am I?
Ramson said Zahir fills a very conspicuous void in the local and national chess scene. “Going back maybe 10 or 15 years, I don’t think anyone could remember a young Black man from Southeast representing D.C.” in a national chess tournament, she said. “The children don’t understand Zahir’s power."... "Zahir has been doing a good job speaking to the power of chess in building up your confidence.”
-Robin Ramson, D.C. Scholastic Chess Coordinator to US Chess Federation
https://washingtoninformer.com/d-c-chess-prodigy-returns-to-national-tournament/
-Robin Ramson, D.C. Scholastic Chess Coordinator to US Chess Federation
https://washingtoninformer.com/d-c-chess-prodigy-returns-to-national-tournament/
Zahir at the 2019 National Castle Chess Camp in Atlanta, GA.
Welcome to Full Circle Chess
Hello Everyone! My name is Zahir Muhammad. I first started learning how to play the game of chess at the age of 3. I used to play my father almost everyday in our basement home. From there I started getting lessons from many DC coaching legends including Ted Fagen, Quito Swan, and Vaughn Bennett. In 2013, I joined the Bravo Zulu Chess Academy which was an chess program filled with other minority students breaking down their own respective stereotypes. For the next four years we dominated the Mid-Atlantic Region, winning the next five city championships and the next four regional championships.
In 2017 I began to expand my horizons. I won my first individual city championship, and was invited to the Denker National High School Tournament of Champions. Soon thereafter I was honored by the District of Columbia for my recent chess and academic accomplishments. I also engaged many meaningful discussions involving implementing chess programs in elementary schools with Former Mayor Vincent Gray and the DC City Council. In November of 2018 I was selected by Council member Anita Bonds as one of 40 recipients of the Community Cornerstone Award for outstanding leadership and service in the community.
I currently am a Class A player (which requires a US Chess Federation Rating of 1800+) and the top ranked high school student in Washington DC. Over the past three years, I have won the Baltimore Scholastic City Championship, the Greater Mid Atlantic Regional Championship, and have produced a top 10 finish at the K-12 National Chess Championships as well.
Growing up my family always taught me about the importance of being balanced and multifaceted. I am trilingual and have been learning both Chinese and Spanish since elementary school. I also ran track for my first two years in high school and play basketball for multiple AAU teams in the DC area. All of these activities have provided me with many opportunities to showcase my skills and talents. I am the president of the Black Student Union at the DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. Not only do I embrace my black heritage and culture in my daily life, but I am a Muslim follower in the Nation of Islam as well. I strive to do my best to relate all these interests cohesively to create a healthy agenda of enlightening tasks and pursuits.
In the near future I am working to graduate high school in May of 2020. I want to go to college and study architectural engineering. In addition to these academic goals, I would like to continue studying chess and reach the level of National Master (which requires a US Chess Federation Rating of 2200+) and eventually International Master (which requires a US Chess Federation Rating of 2400+).
Currently I am working to network with schools and camps across the city to offer my services as a friendly affordable tutor to younger students interested in learning the nuances and strategies of chess. This year was a breakthrough year for me in my community service and teaching. I've always been strong proponent of giving back to the community. This winter, I spoke at the February Black History Tournament at the Thurgood Marshall Center to a crowd of over 100 students mostly from Wards 7 and 8 where I come from. I also worked with students from the Center for Black Excellence School, and most recently taught this summer at the Kids and Culture Camp to students age 3-12.
I look forward to continuing to help uplift my community and defeat negative stereotypes surrounding black and minority students worldwide. I want to continue expanding my knowledge of the game of chess, and I hope to get to know many different friends and families from all across the country through the game I love.
If you have any questions or are interested in collaborating with me please don't hesitate to contact me at zahirmchess@gmail.com
Thanks!
In 2017 I began to expand my horizons. I won my first individual city championship, and was invited to the Denker National High School Tournament of Champions. Soon thereafter I was honored by the District of Columbia for my recent chess and academic accomplishments. I also engaged many meaningful discussions involving implementing chess programs in elementary schools with Former Mayor Vincent Gray and the DC City Council. In November of 2018 I was selected by Council member Anita Bonds as one of 40 recipients of the Community Cornerstone Award for outstanding leadership and service in the community.
I currently am a Class A player (which requires a US Chess Federation Rating of 1800+) and the top ranked high school student in Washington DC. Over the past three years, I have won the Baltimore Scholastic City Championship, the Greater Mid Atlantic Regional Championship, and have produced a top 10 finish at the K-12 National Chess Championships as well.
Growing up my family always taught me about the importance of being balanced and multifaceted. I am trilingual and have been learning both Chinese and Spanish since elementary school. I also ran track for my first two years in high school and play basketball for multiple AAU teams in the DC area. All of these activities have provided me with many opportunities to showcase my skills and talents. I am the president of the Black Student Union at the DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. Not only do I embrace my black heritage and culture in my daily life, but I am a Muslim follower in the Nation of Islam as well. I strive to do my best to relate all these interests cohesively to create a healthy agenda of enlightening tasks and pursuits.
In the near future I am working to graduate high school in May of 2020. I want to go to college and study architectural engineering. In addition to these academic goals, I would like to continue studying chess and reach the level of National Master (which requires a US Chess Federation Rating of 2200+) and eventually International Master (which requires a US Chess Federation Rating of 2400+).
Currently I am working to network with schools and camps across the city to offer my services as a friendly affordable tutor to younger students interested in learning the nuances and strategies of chess. This year was a breakthrough year for me in my community service and teaching. I've always been strong proponent of giving back to the community. This winter, I spoke at the February Black History Tournament at the Thurgood Marshall Center to a crowd of over 100 students mostly from Wards 7 and 8 where I come from. I also worked with students from the Center for Black Excellence School, and most recently taught this summer at the Kids and Culture Camp to students age 3-12.
I look forward to continuing to help uplift my community and defeat negative stereotypes surrounding black and minority students worldwide. I want to continue expanding my knowledge of the game of chess, and I hope to get to know many different friends and families from all across the country through the game I love.
If you have any questions or are interested in collaborating with me please don't hesitate to contact me at zahirmchess@gmail.com
Thanks!
Zahir before playing to defend his District of Columbia High School Championship.
"Now that I have moved on past the team and playing individually, that is sort of my individual goal - is to continue what we started on that team and continue that individually to defeat stereotypes. Play well and show that I can be more than just an athlete or more than just be tall or something like that. I can play and use my mental abilities to help impact society."
-Zahir Muhammad
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/dc-teen-reaching-new-heights-as-nationally-ranked-chess-player
-Zahir Muhammad
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/dc-teen-reaching-new-heights-as-nationally-ranked-chess-player